If you do not see an answer to a question you have here, please email me at mchase@chasetaxgroup.com, or use the form available by clicking here.

Request a “New Client Packet” either directly from our office, or from www.chaseandbrown.com . If you are a pilot or flight attendant, please let us know, as the new client packets are slightly different. Existing clients will automatically be sent required materials.

The “New Client Packet” will contain a personal information worksheet that must be filled out. You will also find a checklist of items that we will need to properly prepare your tax return.

The method that we have found to be the most secure and reliable is by Express Mail, Federal Express, or UPS Next Day Air.  If you are an airline employee, Federal Express charges an employee rate of $5.50 for Next Day Air. Upon receipt of your tax documents, we will contact you to let you know that we have received your package. We have used this method for many years with very few problems. If you are uncomfortable with sending your tax documents by this method, please contact our office and we will make alternative arrangements.

No, please send us only originals.  Make copies for yourself if you are concerned about something being lost.  If you only have a photocopy, because you never got the original, then send what you have. Everything you send us will be returned.

Yes, in addition to preparing your Federal Income Tax return, we will also prepare your State(s) Income Tax return.  If you moved during the year, you may actually have more than one State return.

We do need all the W-2’s that your employer sends you.  The reason you received more than one could be any of the following reasons.

• You changed your State of Residency during the year.
• Your employer was required to withhold a State Disability Tax from your paycheck. (This is common in California and New Jersey).
• You had too much information to fit one just one W-2.
• You live in a State that is different than your crew base.

We would prefer not to receive a shoebox full of receipts. Send us the receipts for big items, and list on a sheet of paper all the little ones.

No. Pilots and Flight Attendants should keep a calendar that indicates where all their overnights occurred.  We provided you with a calendar in your “New Client Packet”. By keeping track of your overnights, the IRS will allow you to write off your meals without any receipts. Each city in the United States has a different amount that can be written off.  You do not need to memorize these amounts, as we have them on file and they change each year. (Southwest Employees) An easy way to keep track of your overnights is to print off a Maestro Payroll Report at the end of each month.

Yes.  However, you are severally limited on how much you can actually write off.

We try our very best to have everything returned to you in 7-10 days.  During the month of February, we normally get things turned around in 5 days or less. The earlier you can get your information to us, the faster we can get it back to you.  Turn around times is longest in the third week of March.

If we could not file your tax return electronically, or you did not want it filed electronically, we will return to you the actual tax returns.  They will already be pre-addressed, so all you will need to do is sign and mail them.  In addition, you will receive a ‘bounded’ booklet that will contain copies of all the worksheets used to calculate your tax liability, along with copies of your filed returns.  All tax documents you sent us will be “bounded” with this information, so that you have a permanent record of everything. If we filed your return electronically, you will still get the ‘bounded” permanent copy, but there will be nothing for you to mail off.

Your tax returns and records will be returned to you via next day air. We have found this to be the safest and secure way to send important documents, plus it allows us to track its progress in getting to you.

Yes. When we have you complete Form 8879 and return it to us with your tax information.  This form replaces your signature by using a 5 digit pin number made up by you.  

The single most important thing that we have found that works, is filling out the calendar we have provided you in your “New Client Packet”.  This is the same calendar that we provide to all our existing clients, year after year.  By establishing where your overnights were, we can assist you in establishing what expenses you likely incurred.  Remember, most of our staff is made up of airline pilots and flight attendants who are still flying the line.  We know what expenses we incur and your expenses are not much different.

Yes.  During the time that you were in training, you can deduct a daily meal allowance, for the city, in which your training occurred.  Furthermore, you can deduct any expenses associated with getting the job, such as interview preparation fees, travel expenses and hotel accommodations.  Initial expenses such as flight bags, suitcases and uniform pieces are all deductible expenses. For new hires, these expenses add up.

No. We all have run across someone who will tell us that their accountant writes off their crash pad/hotels. That is because their accountant does not work with Department of Transportation workers enough to know the rules.  Regardless of where you live, your “TAX HOME” is where you are BASED.  Expenses you incur are deductible only if outside your “TAX HOME”. IRS Publication 463 has several pages dedicated to this subject.  If you take this deduction and are audited by the IRS, you will lose.  Furthermore, the IRS has audited people strictly based on this deduction alone. If you feel like gambling, go to   Las Vegas. The only time that you can take a deduction for a crash pad or hotel expense is if it is outside your tax home.  You are based in OAK, but pick up an AM in PHX that requires you to get a hotel the night before. That expense would be deductible because it is outside your tax home.  Temporary base assignments are the only other exception.
 
Your base assignment is your tax home.

Yes. A deduction is allowed for computer purchases.  There are some rules associated with this deduction; however, we will walk through them with you.

Yes. We have the means to go back and find the price of a stock on a particular day. (Southwest Employees) We have all the data associated with Southwest Airlines stock and the ESPP.

Yes.  Your company is going to report certain benefits on your W-2 that is considered income.  To keep from paying taxes on these benefits you will need to file Form 3903 (Moving Expense) and reconcile your expenses associated with the move.

The preferred method of payment would be to include a check with the tax information you return to our office.  You may also pay via bank debit cards, VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express at no extra charge.

Unfortunately, No.  IRS Publication 463 specifically prohibits it. Sorry, our job is to keep you out of these kinds of problems.